Advocate urges SC to take cognizance of Dharmasthala Burials, seeks SIT oversight by Retired Judge
New Delhi: Advocate Rohit Pandey of the Supreme Court has written to the Chief Justice of India requesting the apex court to take suo motu cognizance of the alleged mass burials in Dharmasthala and to place the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge.
In his letter dated September 16, Pandey stated that the extraordinary disclosures surrounding the case, including exhumed human remains, public testimonies, and corroborations by villagers, demanded urgent judicial intervention to ensure independence, transparency and accountability in the investigation.
Allegations and SIT probe
The letter recalls that sanitation worker C.N. Chinnayya had, in July 2025, sworn an affidavit before the court and lodged a complaint with police, alleging that he was compelled to secretly bury victims of heinous crimes and rapes over the past two decades in Dharmasthala. Acting on his disclosures, the Karnataka government formed an SIT on July 20, which has since exhumed skeletal remains, skulls, and clothing items from multiple sites.
Villagers, including Vittal Gowda, uncle of Soujanya, the 17-year-old rape and murder victim of 2012, have testified that they witnessed Chinnayya burying bodies in the past. Guided by his earlier disclosures, villagers reportedly led the SIT to Banglegudde, where several bodies are visibly present.
On September 13, a senior Karnataka minister confirmed publicly that a large number of bodies had been unearthed by the SIT in Dharmasthala, describing the findings as resembling a “battlefield.”
Concerns over pressure and intimidation
Despite the findings, Pandey’s letter alleges that the SIT is facing pressure not to exhume further visible bodies. He also raised concerns that lawyers assisting victims in approaching the SIT are being harassed by state police outside the SIT, terming it an attack on the independence of the Bar.
Demands before the Supreme Court
In light of these circumstances, the advocate urged the Chief Justice to intervene and ensure judicial oversight. The letter specifically requests the court to:
Take suo motu cognizance of the Dharmasthala mass burials case;
Place the SIT under the supervision of a retired Supreme Court judge;
Direct immediate exhumation and forensic examination of all visible remains under judicial oversight;
Ensure protection for witnesses, victims’ families, and assisting lawyers.
“Justice imperilled”
Pandey cautioned that when human remains remain unexhumed due to pressure and witnesses are silenced, “justice itself is imperilled.” He underlined that the intervention of the Supreme Court was the only safeguard to prevent truth from being buried and to uphold the dignity of the law.
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Ordinance issued to increase number of Supreme Court judges from 34 to 38
New Delhi (PTI): The government has promulgated an ordinance to increase the strength of the Supreme Court from the present 34 judges to 38, including the Chief Justice of India.
The law ministry notified the ordinance on Saturday, which amended the Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, 1956, to increase the sanctioned strength of the top court.
So far, the sanctioned strength of the top court was 34, including the Chief Justice of India (CJI). Now, the number of judges has been increased by four, taking the sanctioned strength to 38.
The top court will now have 37 judges, other than the CJI.
With the apex court having two vacancies at present, and the ordinance coming into force immediately, the Supreme Court Collegium will now have to recommend six names for appointment as judges in the top court.
A bill will be brought in the Monsoon Session of Parliament to convert the ordinance – an executive order – into a law passed by Parliament.
The Union Cabinet had cleared a draft bill on May 5 to increase the number of apex court judges.
The strength of the Supreme Court was last increased from 30 to 33 (excluding the CJI) in 2019.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Act, as originally enacted in 1956, put the maximum number of judges (excluding the CJI) at 10.
This number was increased to 13 by the Supreme Court (Number of Judges), Amendment Act, 1960, and to 17 by another amendment to the law.
The Supreme Court (Number of Judges) Amendment Act, 1986, augmented the strength of judges from 17 to 25, excluding the CJI.
A fresh amendment in 2009 further increased the strength from 25 to 30.
Article 124(3) of the Constitution lists the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court judge.
An Indian citizen who has either served as a high court judge for at least five years, or as an advocate for 10 years, or is a distinguished jurist, can be appointed to the top court.
The strength of the Supreme Court is increased based on the recommendations of the CJI, who writes to the Union law minister. After consulting the finance ministry, the Department of Justice under the law ministry moves the Cabinet with a draft bill.
